Article Topic: Pagan

With its focus on fun and frivolity, it's no wonder Beltane is one of the most festive Sabbats of the year for many modern Pagans. Held each year on or around May 1st, Beltane is a celebration of vitality, fertility, strength, and growth reflecting a blending of many traditions. Here, Beltane author Melanie Marquis provides ideas for May Trees and other ways to celebrate this sacred day.

Deborah Blake has written a number of books over the years, but far and away the most popular one was the third, The Goddess Is in the Details; it recently went back for a sixth printing. Here she discusses its popularity and its companion, her new book, Everyday Witchcraft: Making Time for Spirit in a Too-Busy World .

The idea of using the stars for magic and ritual is not new, so why aren't more of us harnessing the power of the constellations in our magic and rituals? Sandra Kynes, author of the new Star Magic, presents an exploration of the night sky along with a new interpretation of the constellations that is relevant for twenty-first century Pagans and Wiccans.

While it is often the simple things that get us through life and help us to change our perspective, it is also true that the simple things are really easy to forget. We forget to play. We forget to be happy. We forget to love. What's more, we often don't even realize that we forget to do these things! This year, use these ideas from Ostara author Kerri Connor to rejuvenate and balance your emotions, finding new joy in the process.

What is possible after death? Will you be able to talk to your loved ones after you die? Will you be able to help your loved ones? Alexandra Chauran, author of the new How to Talk to Me After I'm Gone, explains the beauty—and benefits—of creating a plan for spirit communication, and proposes that it become a topic of Pagan activism.

Since childhood, and for various reasons, The Priestess and the Pen author Sonja Sadovsky has been enamored with the image of successful women who overcame adversity to create something new, both in fiction and in reality. And, more often than not, magic played a part in these images of Goddesses and Priestesses. Here she discusses her motivation for writing her new book and the desire to see today's dreams become tomorrow's reality.

Merlin Stone was the renowned feminist, author, artist, historian, and speaker most famous for her book, When God Was a Woman. Her partner, Lenny Schneir, shares how Merlin turned him from a self-proclaimed male chauvinist into a feminist, and he explains why the new book, Merlin Stone Remembered, is so important for him to share with the world.

In our daily and spiritual lives, we often neglect the plants and fungi around us—uprooting carrots and radishes for food, destroying the reproductive organs of flowers for bouquets, and deliberately stunting the bushes in our lawns. It is possible, however, to provide these plants with the respect and honor they deserve. Lupa, author of the new Plant and Fungus Totems, presents five ways we can honor our plant and fungi friends while still interacting with them.

In Paganism, we like to say that we have reclaimed the Goddess. But have we really? Truly reclaiming the Goddess doesn't simply mean acknowledging the existence of the divine feminine, it also requires us to explore all of Her archetypes, and to reevaluate our concepts of femininity. Stephanie Woodfield, author of Drawing Down the Sun, explains how we can reconnect with the goddess beyond her lunar personalities.

Demons, fairies, and saints—together? These are not three categories we think of together. In past eras, however, perceptions of the supernatural world were much more fluid. Magicians of the Renaissance would not be averse to calling upon whatever beings were available that could teach them secrets, acquire treasure, or gain the love of... read this article